Denzel Perryman of the Chargers celebrates his interception during the NFL International Series game between Tennessee Titans and Chargers at Wembley Stadium on October 21, 2018 in London, England. Perryman suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 against the Raiders. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

COSTA MESA — Denzel Perryman didn’t want the brace around his left knee to diminish his achievement. He was there Monday running with his teammates for the start of the Chargers’ offseason program.

Players weren’t required to attend, but Perryman shouted as if he wanted someone to take roll. The recently re-signed linebacker pointed to his brace and made it known to the reporters watching he was present.

Perryman wasn’t supposed to be there. He’s only five months removed since undergoing knee surgery for an LCL injury that cut his 2018 season short.

Apart from the brace and a slimmer physique, Perryman was still the same player, providing passion and energy to a mundane spring workout. Perryman went from 245 pounds last year to 220 pounds, according to Chargers coach Anthony Lynn.

“He’s in great shape,” Lynn said about Perryman. “I’m looking for my (middle) linebacker and he’s standing right in front of me and I didn’t even know it. … Denzel, he has that discipline to be at whatever weight he wants, but he looks good at all of those weights.”

Perryman was one of many players in attendance Monday. But one notable absentee was Philip Rivers.

The star quarterback is looking for an extension – his current contract expires at the end of the season – but that’s not the reason why Rivers wasn’t at the workout, according to Lynn. Rivers is in Florida for his annual Easter family vacation.

“He does a family vacation around Easter every year,” Lynn said. “Easter was pushed back this year, so I didn’t want him showing up here just for today and tomorrow, and then going back with his family in Florida. That’s why he’s not here.”

Free-agent acquisitions Tyrod Taylor and Thomas Davis were participants. Last month, Davis, a 15-year veteran linebacker, vowed that he would keep up with the Chargers’ younger players on defense.

He’s already challenged star safety Derwin James to a one-on-one game of basketball. But James’ basketball days are over for now.

“(Coach Lynn) was sitting there and he said, ‘I saw your dunk. Stay out of the gym, but I like it. It was (a) nice (dunk),’ ” James said referring to his dunk that went viral in February. “I’m done with basketball right now. It’s football time.”

James is a competitive person — he made sure to win most of the running drills Monday — but he wants to learn from Davis, a former Walter Payton Man of the Year.

“He’s a good guy to help mentor me, especially a young guy coming in trying to lead,” James said about the former Carolina Panther. “He’s been doing it a long time, 15 years. He’s a guy that’s willing to help, already I can see. It’s good to have people like that added to the locker room.”

Tight end Hunter Henry tore his ACL last year during a spring workout. But that didn’t stop him from playing in the Chargers’ playoff loss to the New England Patriots in the divisional round. It was Henry’s only game of the 2018 season, but it helped him overcome many mental hurdles for this upcoming season. Henry was at the front of the line during drills.

“I’m pretty much a full-go,” Henry said. “Everything feels good. It still gets sore every once in a while, but it’s nothing too bad. It’s nothing that’s crazy. It’s just a workout soreness.”

Gilbert Manzano grew up reading the Pasadena Star-News, and now he’s the Chargers beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Manzano moved back to Pasadena after working three years for the Las Vegas Review-Journal as a Raiders and boxing reporter. The Cal State Northridge graduate spent two seasons as a breaking news editor for NFL.com. The Spanish-speaking lefty likes to go on runs with his dog, Cam.